We examined effects of five individual terpenes on alfalfa pellet intake of lambs. In each experiment, 45 lambs were individually fed alfalfa pellets sprayed with either p-cymene, alpha-humulene, 1,8-cineole, 3-carene, or sabinene at one of five concentrations. Treatment levels (0, .5, 1, 2, and 10X) were multiples of the concentrations (X) of specific terpenes in tarbush that were related to differential herbivory by livestock in previous studies. Treatments were applied to alfalfa pellets (.64 kg/lamb/d, DM basis), and consumption during a 20-min interval was measured for 5 d. Lambs were adapted to handling and pen feeding for 10 d, and were maintained and fed alfalfa pellets in one group (except during 20-min tests) at a mean total daily intake of 4.7% of BW (DM basis). None of the five compounds examined decreased pellet consumption during the 20-min interval. These five mono- and sesquiterpenes do not appear to be responsible for differential herbivory of individual tarbush plants by livestock.